This page will be used to post current events in biology and science in general. They will be arranged in reverse-chronological order with the most recent events at the top of the page. December 3, 2012: Scientists have developed the world's smallest fiber optic "wrench" that can precisely manipulate microscale objects. This new tool will allow scientists to twist and untwist individual strands of DNA or manipulate single cells for purposes such as cancer research. Article:http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=52460
December 2, 2012: Scientists have discovered how humans and other mammals have evolved to have intelligence. The researchers suggest that a simple invertebrate animal living in the sea 500-550 million years ago experienced a "genetic accident" which allowed us to develop intelligence and provided our ability to learn complex skills, analyze situations, and have flexibility in the way we think. However, it is thought that the same genes that improved our mental capacity are also responsible for a number of brain disorders. Article:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121202164325.htm http://www.livescience.com/25190-genetic-roots-vertebrate-intelligence.html
November 29, 2012: Water ice and simple organic compounds have been found on Mercury, making it a planet of astrobiological interest for future scientific studies.
November 20, 2012: The Mars Curiosity rover has made a discovery that " is gonna be one for the history books" according to John Grotzinger, principal investigator for the rover mission. They are currently reviewing the findings and will not make an official announcement regarding the discovery for a few more weeks. Article:http://www.npr.org/2012/11/20/165513016/big-news-from-mars-rover-scientists-mum-for-now
October 10, 2012: Researchers have discovered that DNA has a half-life of 521 years. This means that, under the conditions used in the study, half of the bonds holding together a DNA strand will be broken in 521 years; half of the remaining bonds would be broken after 521 more years; and so on. Even under ideal conditions, a DNA strand would be completely destroyed after a maximum of 6.8 million years, with the DNA becoming effectively unreadable after roughly 1.5 million years. This is bad news for anyone hoping to recreate Jurassic Park. Article:http://www.nature.com/news/dna-has-a-521-year-half-life-1.11555
This page will be used to post current events in biology and science in general. They will be arranged in reverse-chronological order with the most recent events at the top of the page.
December 3, 2012: Scientists have developed the world's smallest fiber optic "wrench" that can precisely manipulate microscale objects. This new tool will allow scientists to twist and untwist individual strands of DNA or manipulate single cells for purposes such as cancer research.
Article: http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=52460
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December 3, 2012: The Mars Curiosity rover has found simple organic compounds including traces of water, sulfur, and some chlorine-containing compounds in samples of martian soil. However, the source of these compounds is still unknown. Scientists are now trying to determine if the organic matter was once alive, drifted onto Mars from space, was cooked up in Curiosity's analytical instrument, or was originally from Earth and got brought to Mars by the Curiosity rover.
Articles: http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/12/the-first-signs-of-ancient-life-.html?ref=hp
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/moon-mars/curiosity-finds-simple-organics-but-big-questions-remain-14815297?click=pm_latest
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December 3, 2012: The "Pinocchio Effect" has been confirmed. Scientists have found that, when you lie, your nose temperature rises.
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121203081834.htm
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December 2, 2012: Scientists have discovered how humans and other mammals have evolved to have intelligence. The researchers suggest that a simple invertebrate animal living in the sea 500-550 million years ago experienced a "genetic accident" which allowed us to develop intelligence and provided our ability to learn complex skills, analyze situations, and have flexibility in the way we think. However, it is thought that the same genes that improved our mental capacity are also responsible for a number of brain disorders.
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121202164325.htm
http://www.livescience.com/25190-genetic-roots-vertebrate-intelligence.html
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November 29, 2012: Water ice and simple organic compounds have been found on Mercury, making it a planet of astrobiological interest for future scientific studies.
Articles: http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/4113/20121129/water-ice-mercury-nasa-findings-change-look.htm
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-11/breaking-water-ice-confirmed-mercury
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November 28, 2012: The double-helix structure of DNA, discovered in 1953 by James D. Watson and Francis Crick, has been photographed for the first time using an electron microscope.
Article: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22545-dna-imaged-with-electron-microscope-for-the-first-time.html
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November 20, 2012: The Mars Curiosity rover has made a discovery that " is gonna be one for the history books" according to John Grotzinger, principal investigator for the rover mission. They are currently reviewing the findings and will not make an official announcement regarding the discovery for a few more weeks.
Article: http://www.npr.org/2012/11/20/165513016/big-news-from-mars-rover-scientists-mum-for-now
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November 8, 2012: Scientists have named a new species of dinosaur. The 20-foot long, 2 ton Xenoceratops was identified from fossils originally found in 1958.
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121108074008.htm
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November 8, 2012: A new "super-Earth" planet has been discovered that may be able to support life. The problem is that it is 42 light years from Earth. Even if we could travel at the speed of light (see links below for explanations why we cannot), it would take 42 years to get there. We could, however, build a telescope to see objects that distance away, but since the light we would be observing would take 42 years to travel from there to Earth, we would be seeing 42 years into the past.
Super-Earth Article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121108073927.htm
Why We Can't Travel at Light Speed Articles:
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-02/stray-hydrogen-atoms-become-deadly-starships-traveling-light-speed
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-01/interstellar-travel-wont-be-possible-least-200-years-according-new-calculations
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October 10, 2012: Researchers have discovered that DNA has a half-life of 521 years. This means that, under the conditions used in the study, half of the bonds holding together a DNA strand will be broken in 521 years; half of the remaining bonds would be broken after 521 more years; and so on. Even under ideal conditions, a DNA strand would be completely destroyed after a maximum of 6.8 million years, with the DNA becoming effectively unreadable after roughly 1.5 million years. This is bad news for anyone hoping to recreate Jurassic Park.
Article: http://www.nature.com/news/dna-has-a-521-year-half-life-1.11555